Thats interesting seeing as proper form on a squat is basically impossible in a smith machine.

Who said the squats were required for a beginner workout program?

You can do squats in a smith machine but I find that squats in a smith machine target the hamstrings and glutes more. Most people who do front squats do them in a Smith Machine as well.

It's better than moving straight to free weight squats where you have more of a chance of sustaining injury.

Smith Machine squats will more or less give you a rough idea of how they should be done and the bar and weight is guided which gives you less of a chance to injure yourself. Or you could do bare bar or bodyweight squats if that helps more. Just my two cents.

I'll respectfully disagree since you are much stronger than me, I think particularly for a beginner using a smith machine would lead to bad habits and a greater chance of injury. I've never seen a human being squat with the bar travelling in a straight line.

You can do squats in a smith machine but I find that squats in a smith machine target the hamstrings and glutes more. Most people who do front squats do them in a Smith Machine as well.

It's better than moving straight to free weight squats where you have more of a chance of sustaining injury.

Smith Machine squats will more or less give you a rough idea of how they should be done and the bar and weight is guided which gives you less of a chance to injure yourself. Or you could do bare bar or bodyweight squats if that helps more. Just my two cents.

Don't get me wrong I don't usually recommend people doing squats on a smith machine at all but it's safer to practice on it or with a bare bar or bodyweight as I said to make sure you have your form right.

Up until a few months ago I had no idea how shitty my squat form was until I was corrected and I had been doing it that way for almost a year.

I never said Smith Machine squats are better but for a rookie they are safer.

And I know I'm probably going catch a lot of heat for this but before you move onto Squats which I consider to be a more intermediate exercise, Leg Presses offer RELATIVELY the same premise as free weight squats without the risk of injury.

And I know I'm probably going catch a lot of heat for this but before you move onto Squats which I consider to be a more intermediate exercise, Leg Presses offer RELATIVELY the same premise as free weight squats without the risk of injury.

Eh leg presses are definitely safer for the back, but they are nowhere close to a substitute for squats. They can be a good accessory though for leg strength/size.

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